Chorley 0-0 Preston North End 11/07/2015

Written by Mark Locke

Published on Saturday, 11 July 2015 20:47

Saturday July 11th, 3pm

Jack Kirkland Trophy

Chorley and Preston North End shared the Jack Kirkland Memorial Trophy for the first time after their annual friendly clash at Victory Park ended in a goalless draw writes Dave Seddon of the Chorley Guardian.

The normally lethal Joe Garner missed a second-half penalty for North End, hitting the spot-kick against the bar.

There were half chances at either end in a game played in front of a healthy-sized crowd of 2,022.

Will Keane made his Lilywhites debut after signing on loan from Manchester United in the week.

Both sides used their full squads, Chorley changing nine of their side at the interval and Preston 10.

The game’s first clear-cut opener arrived in the seventh minute, Jordan Hugill’s industrious run ending with him threading a fine pass through the Magpies defence to find Jermaine Beckford.

With just the keeper to beat, Beckford looked odds on to score but poked his first-time shot the wrong side of the post.

Andy Little lifted a shot from 25 yards over the bar, before the action swung to the other end of the pitch with Danny Ventre forcing Jamie Jones into a save low down.

Kyel Reid’s snap shot from the outside the box was held at the second attempt by keeper Sam Ashton.

Chorley had a couple of chances close together, James Dean well wide with a shot from 20 yards, then Harry Winter went much closer, his effort curling inches past the far post.

Hugill, impressive throughout the first period, got his head to Little’s cross but watched his header loop over.

Another centre from Little in the 36th minute found Beckford, his glancing header going just wide.

After finding room on the right, Hugill drilled the ball across goal from the side of the box without anyone able to get a touch.

Ross kept the scoreline blank when he dived to his left to glove away Beckford’s header after Ben Davies’ cross had picked him out.

Keane missed out on a debut goal after he mis-controlled a ball into the box, although the striker did recover to get away a shot which clipped off a Chorley body - the deflection carrying it over the bar.